Mobility management entity having mobile switching center functionality

Abstract

A Mobility Management Entity (MME) comprises at least one entity or layer having Mobile Switching Center (MSC) functionality to support a Short Messaging Service (SMS) between a network and a mobile station by employing Machine-to-Machine (M2M) or Machine Type Communication (MTC) protocols. A first state machine entity or layer that supports relay functions to perform forwarding of SMS messages to the mobile station. A second state machine entity or layer that supports connection functions with at least an HSS/HLR (Home Subscriber Server/Home Location Register), and with an SMS-SC (Short Messaging Service-Service Center) or GMSC/IWMSC (Gateway MSC/Interworking MSC).

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A method of handling signals for Short Messaging Service (SMS) in a wireless network including a Home Subscriber Server (HSS), the method comprising:
 requesting, by a mobile station (MS) to a Mobility Management Entity (MME) supporting SMS functionality in the MME, a combined Tracking Area (TA) and Location Area (LA) update for Packet Switched (PS) and Circuit Switched (CS) domains so that the MME sends to the HSS a location update request over an S6a interface configured between the MME and the HSS for the combined TA and LA update, the location update request comprising preference information indicating a predefined preference to use the SMS functionality in the MME, an information element containing identification information of the MME, and information indicating the MS requested that any potential registrations with CS domain is only for obtaining the SMS; and 
 receiving, by the MS, the SMS triggered by an SMS signaling, which is configured by an SMS Service Center (SMS-SC) or an SMS Gateway MSC/Interworking MSC (SMS-GMSC/IWMSC) based on the location update request. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the TA update is related to PS domain procedures and the LA update is related to CS domain procedures. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the MS is a single mode E-UTRAN device. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 3 , wherein the MS is a Long Term Evolution (LTE)-only device. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the MS is a machine-type communication (MTC) device. 
     
     
       6. A mobile station (MS) of handling signals for Short Messaging Service (SMS) in a wireless network including a Home Subscriber Server (HSS), the MS comprising:
 a transceiver configured to configured to transmit and receive a signal; and 
 a processor coupled to the transceiver and configured to:
 request, to a Mobility Management Entity (MME) supporting SMS functionality in the MME, a combined Tracking Area (TA) and Location Area (LA) update for Packet Switched (PS) and Circuit Switched (CS) domains so that the MME sends to the HSS a location update request over an S6a interface configured between the MME and the HSS for the combined TA and LA update, the location update request comprising preference information indicating a predefined preference to use the SMS functionality in the MME, an information element containing identification information of the MME, and information indicating the MS requested that any potential registrations with CS domain is only for obtaining the SMS, and 
 receive the SMS triggered by an SMS signaling, which is configured by an SMS Service Center (SMS-SC) or an SMS Gateway MSC/Interworking MSC (SMS-GMSC/IWMSC) based on the location update request. 
 
 
     
     
       7. The mobile station of  claim 6 , wherein the TA update is related to PS domain procedures and the LA update is related to CS domain procedures. 
     
     
       8. The mobile station of  claim 6 , wherein the MS is a single mode E-UTRAN device. 
     
     
       9. The mobile station of  claim 8 , wherein the MS is a Long Term Evolution (LTE)-only device. 
     
     
       10. The mobile station of  claim 6 , wherein the MS is a machine-type communication (MTC) device.